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Saturday, 30 June 2012

Supervisor "What are you watching?"
Number 2 "It's a new television series called the Prisoner."
"What's it about?"
"This chap resigns his job. He goes home, and is abducted by two Undertakers and wakes up in the Village."
"Really! What's his name?"
"Who?"
"The Prisoner."
"Yes."
"What's his name?"
"The Prisoner."
"Yes."
"He doesn't have one. But later he's known as Number Six."
"Why is he in the Village?"
"Because he resigned, and they want to know the reason why."
"What's he doing?"
"He's getting the milk out of the fridge. Last week he put a loudspeaker in the fridge!"
"Why did he do that?"
"Because he couldn't switch it off."
"Do they torture him?"
"Only up to a point. They're not allowed to damage him."
"Why?"
"They want him with a whole mind and body. They don't want him broken, a man of fragments."
"And the Village?"
"What about it?"
"What's the name of the place?"
"The Village."
"Yes, what's it called?"
"The Village."
"Yes."
"That's the name of the place, the Village!"
"Oh!"
"Haven't you got any work to do?"
"You obviously haven't!"
"Television broadens the mind."
"I prefer Coronation Street myself, or Crossroads."
"Or Doctor Who."
"Oh that's too scary for me. Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, it's the stuff of nightmares!"
"It could be said that the Village is a nightmare world."
"It is now they've gone and made a television series out of it. Who is he?"
"Patrick McGoohan."
"Oh, Danger Man's John Drake. Don't tell me it's him that's been abducted to the Village!"
"No, but that won't stop people like you from thinking it!"
"I'd better get back to the Control Room."
"Send in the Butler on your way out. I think I'd like some tea."

The "Rules of Conduct concerned a predecessor of 'Danger Man' John Drake. You didn't know Drake had a predecessor? Well perhaps not on television, but he certainly had on on BBC radio between 1946 and 1952, that of Dick Barton - Special Agent.
What follows is the list of the "Rules of Conduct," some of which may appear familiar to fans of 'Danger Man.'

"1, Barton is intelligent as well as hard-hitting. He relies as much upon brains as much as brawn.
2, He only uses force when normal, peaceful means of reaching a legitimate goal have failed.
3, Barton never commits an offence in the criminal code, no matter how desirable the means may be argued to justify the end.
4, In reasonable circumstances, he may deceive but he never lies.
5, Barton's violence is restricted to clean socks on the jaw. The refinements of unarmed combat taught to British Commandoes cannot be practised by him or by his colleagues. When involved in a brawl which ends in victory for the Barton side, he must be equally matched or outnumbered.
6, Barton's enemies have more latitude in their behaviour but they may not indulge in actually giving any injury or punishment which is basically sadistic!
7, Barton and his friends do not wittingly involve innocent members of the public in situations which could cause them to be distressed. For example, a motor car canot be requisitioned for the purpose of chasing bandits, without the owner's prior permission.
8, Barton has now given up drink altogether. No reference should be made to its existence in the Barton circle. The villains may drink but never to excess. Drunken scenes are barred.
9, Sex, in the active sense, plays no part in the Barton adventures. In other words, Dick has no flirtations or affairs and his enemies have no molls or mistresses {as opposed to partners}. This provision does not of course rule out the possibility of a decent marriage {not involving Dick personally} taking place.
10, Horrific effects in general must be closely watched. Supernatural or pseuo-supernatuarl sequences are to be avoided - ghosts, night-prowling, gorillas, vampires.
11, Swearing and bad language generally may not be used by any character. The ban ranges from 'bloody' through 'God,' 'Damn' and 'hell' to ugly expressions currently heard on certain conversations but not considered admissible for child usage in middle-class homes.
12, Polictcal themes are unpopular as well as being occasionaly embarassing. The-man-who-wants-to-control-the-Earth creates little impact and is best left out of the Barton world."

The above found in 'The Wireless stars' by George Nobbs, published in 1972.

Funerals are not always possible, you need a body! This is the funeral of Cobb, who supposedly jumped out of a hospital window. But that was not the case, as Cobb is not dead, and therefore there is no body in that coffin. Just like there was no body in the coffin at 93's funeral in 'Arrival' of THEPRISONER.
What's more, I'm not so sure that's a real graveyard at all. I mean think of it underwater when the tide comes in!

"It Means What It Is," those are perhaps the most profound words McGoohan was heard to utter in the entire series of ‘the Prisoner,’ "It means what it is" brilliant. Now it has to be said that I have, in my time, taken the Prisoner quite seriously, indeed I have seen the Prisoner as a reality because for me it has been easier for me to look at, and understand the series in that way.

In my years of appreciation for ‘the Prisoner’ I have joined in debates, discussed, theorised, put ideas forward, and interpreted certain aspects of ‘the Prisoner’ in the best way possible using reasoned logic, and without delving into the realms of fantasy. In other words I have never taken ‘the Prisoner’ to any great extremes, unlike.........Well quite recently a piece of text fell into my possession, well it didn't really fall into my possession, it was sent to me in the post, and when I read this particular piece of text I could hardly believe what I was reading. It would appear that a certain Professor of religious studies, who will remain nameless here, at an American University, and the author of three books, who professes to offer new perspectives on biblical, cultural, ethical, or religious issues and whose writing has a broad application for a general audience, has made the following statement, indeed she is convinced that;"When we truly understand ‘the Prisoner,’ we will know the meaning of life and our place in the universe."

That's one hell of a statement that's been made there, and it would only take a Professor of religious studies, and an American to boot, no offence intended to my American readers, to make such a bold statement. Now I have arrived at an understanding of ‘the Prisoner’ which, if I may be so bold as to say, is second to none and which suits me. I have spent four and half years making an in-depth study of the Prisoner, and I have to say that I haven't even come close to knowing the "meaning of life and our place in the universe" through ‘the Prisoner,’ but perhaps if I'd spent a further six months, and looked in other places.............who knows, what other delights I may have discovered?! I mean lets be completely honest about this, ‘the Prisoner’ is nothing more than a television series, which unfortunately has become a cult, and that is what Patrick McGoohan was afraid of. Patrick McGoohan was also adamant that there was no religious content of any kind in the Prisoner series. Okay, I take ‘the Prisoner’ seriously, but not to extremes as this American Professor of religious studies, but if she thinks that understanding ‘the Prisoner’ leads to the meaning of life and our place in the universe, then she's completely off her head! My god, Patrick McGoohan would spin in his grave if he thought that anyone would take his creation to such lengths, that anyone could be serious enough to come to such a conclusion. And quite frankly, so am I.

I suppose you think that the Village taxis were driven aimlessly around the Italianate Village of Portmeirion just for show. That all day taxi drivers drove round and round the central Piazza just for show. Well you would be wrong. Because when a taxi driver wasn't driving the Prisoner through the Village, or being stolen by No.6, to be followed and likewise by No.8, there was a real purpose for the taxis.

During the filming of the Prisoner in the September of 1966, guests were still staying at Portmeirion. Guests arriving and leaving, luggage picked up and dropped off. Rooms around the Village being serviced with fresh linen etc, etc, and such work is usually carried out using Portmeirion's own transport. Well if Portmeirion had used their own transport, it would have been a real give away. So what was decided was this, Portmeirion's porters would drive the taxis - Mini-Mokes - and that way guests arriving and leaving Portmeirion could do so safely and undercover via a Village taxi! That way if a taxi was ferrying a guest here or there through the Village while filming of the Prisoner was taking place, no-one would be any the wiser.

Perchance To Dream

There are those of the opinion that the events which take place within the Prisoner are nothing but a dream, or a daydream, played out in the mind of the character we know as Number Six. I don't think that the core of the series can be denoted as a dream, however, the conclusion, ‘Fall Out,’ could be. Certainly it's something of a nightmare for No.6, and anyone else for that matter, who is trying to come to terms with it!

Having said that, if episodes like ‘Dance of the Dead’ is a dream, that might account for the fact that the death sentence against No.6 was not carried out - you cannot die in your own dream! Dreams often conclude with a loop whereby events repeat endlessly often denying escape. The cyclical nature of the series reflects this with the door of the residence of Buckingham Place closing automatically towards the end of ‘Fall Out,’ Village-style, and the word Prisoner appearing on the screen confirming his lack of libery.

In ‘Dance of the Dead’ No.2 tells No.6 If you insist on living a dream, you may be taken for mad. To which No.6 replies I like my dream. To which No.2 replies Then you are mad! But which is the dream? the world beyond or that of the village, the village I suppose, because if the events of ‘the Prisoner’ are part of a dream, then it is this dream that No.6 is living in the village, a dream which he says he likes. Then he is mad!

Friday, 29 June 2012

The Prisoner witnesses the arrival of a new Number 2 as he cycles off to take up office in the Green Dome........so soon!
On the other hand, the guy on the bicycle could be a Two or even Six impersonator!

Or on the other hand, a new Number 2 comes face to face with a Two impersonator!

Where did all these helicopters suddenly spring from? I think one is a Gazelle, which had it's first flight in April of 1967, and possibly a Gnat, none of which we have been seen flying over, or landing in the Village before. {Being superimposed onto the film does not count!}

It was said that the ever changing No.2 in The Village was to stop No.6 building up a relationship with No.2, to stop him getting the measure of his opponent, and taking control of the situation. Well that's all fine and dandy, but No.6 did enjoy a certain rapport with No.2 of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ ‘Once Upon A Time,’ and ‘Fall Out.’ And during 'Hammer Into Anvil' No,.6 was quick to get the measure of No.2, and take the initiative against him, being in control of the situation in fact.

But in my book, even though it was a good idea to have different No.2's, there are two changes which in my book were completely unnecessary. The new No.2 of ‘Arrival,’ and No.2 of ‘The Schizoid Man.’ In the first instance No.2 should have carried on to the end of the episode, and in the second instance, the new No.2 of ‘Free For All’ could have carried on into ‘The Schizoid Man.’

But I can perhaps see the logic in bringing in a new No.2 in 'Arrival,' and 'It's Your Funeral,' in mid conflict, to make No.6 have to start all over again. They are, they're clever, damned clever!

Have you observed the deft touch which No.6 has? He demonstrates this on many ocassions, in the way he gently switches on the ingnition of the International caterpiller in the Blacksmiths in the village of Witchwood, The Girl Who Was Death, and the way No.6 pulls the white envelope from under the sheets on his bed. Not to mention of course the way in which No.6, as the stranger in Living In Harmony, checks his Clot 45 and in how he gently slips his gun neatly back into his holster. No gunman, either Sheriff, Marshal or gunslinger would slip his gun into his holster in such a way, he would check his gun and shove it back into it's holster.

And then when he's at the bar in his local public house during the episode of The Girl Who Was Death, as he orders a cocktail of drinks, Brandy Whisky, Vodka, Drambuie, Tia Maria, Cointreau, Grang Marnier, and then uniformally lines the empty glasses up on the bar.

The way in which he sets the penny farthing security pass discs in the slot of the black box at the security checkpoint in the Town Hall. After doing so, he touches the disc with a deft touch of a finger. Probaby because it isn't sitting in the slot of that little black box. Indeed I find with mine that you have to just touch a coin to make the little hand emerge and snatch away the disc!

And as No.6 sets to launch the rocket during Fall Out, there is the merest of deft touches as he switches switches, turns knobs as he sets the countdown for a 'high orbit.' No.6 is deliberate, direct and precise in his actions, as he is in his determination to escape the village.

Can the Prisoner Be An Art Form?

It was suggested back in the late 1970's that the Prisoner had secured it's place in the highest rank of Romantic Art. Can this be right, to consider the Prisoner as Romantic Art?

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Number 8 - No, not Nadia Rakovsky. No, not the sign, but the white circled Number 8 on the wall. Every home in the Village has such a sign suspended beneath a candy-striped canopy, attached to a striped black and white pole. But why the need for the additional number eight painted upon the wall?

New arrival Nadia Rakovsky is described by Number 2 as suffering from "nervous tension," and has been brought to the Village to recouperate. Yet Nadia Rakovsky tells Number 6 at the door of the Green Dome, that she had done nothing wrong, that she had committed no crime. All she did was to resign.
During an interrogation session, Number 2 tells Number 6 "I don't really want to be hard on her, she's not at all important. I'm surprised that they even sent her here!"
So which is it? As we later learn during 'The Chimes of Big Ben,' Number 8 is a plant in the Village, so it would have been best to have got her backgound story right. As it is her cover storyis rather thin at best!
I'll be seeing you

From the moment new arrival Nadia Rakovsky asks Number 6 for directions to the Green Dome, to the Green Dome itself.

"Could you tell me where Number Two the Green Dome is?
"Oh yes certainly. Cross the square, cross the street, up the steps, you can't miss it."
"I know it sounds crazy, but......."
"What?"
"........I don't know where I am."
"In the Village."
"Lovely day" greets two passing citizens who salute Number 6
"Be seeing you" Number 6 salutes in response.
""It sounds like a salute."
"It is."
"Could you take me there please?"
"To the Green Dome, yes certainly. Across the square, across the street, up the steps, you can't miss it."
"Can you get a car here?"
"Taxis, local service only."
"Where will they take you?"
"Anywhere you like, as long as you arrive back here in the end. That's why they're called local."
"Who are these people? Why are they here?"
"Why are you?"
"Here you are. The Green Dome."
"Who is Number Two?"
"Who is Number One?"
"I'm frightened!"
"Goodbye."
"I've done nothing wrong. I've comitted no crime. All I did was to resign!"
"No use telling me."

The way Number 6 describes things to the new arrival, directing her to the Green Dome, explaining about the taxis, it makes Number 6 sound like a long established citizen within the community.
BCNU

2,000 free work Units, that's the special merit award No.6 won for his sculpture at the Exhibition of Arts & Crafts. As a matter of interest, that's the precise sum of £2,000 per week, McGoohan was earning at the time!

Cobb is another citizen not seen to wear his numbered badge. Even in hospital patients wear their badge!

I wonder if the guardians first victim in ‘Arrival’ was blind? That would account for him dodging about the way he did. He could hear the guardian, but couldn't see it coming at him. And if that is the case, it makes the killing even much more black and violent.

Just think, if they had not involved No.6 in the plot to murder the retiring No.2 in It's Your Funeral, the plot would have worked!

When No.2 telephones No.6 in ‘Once Upon A Time’ No.6 says "I know your voice." It would have been remarkable if No.6 had forgotten so soon after their encounter during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ Seeing as how originally ‘Once Upon A Time’ was to have followed on after ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’. But having said that, there must have been a gap of some description between the two original placing of the two episodes in the screening order. Because No.2 says to No.6 "I've been here before." which suggests that No.2 has been away, and then later brought back to The Village, which is actually confirmed in a telephone conversation between No.2 and No.1. "You can say what you like. You brought me back here."

If No.1 and No.6 are one and the same, two sides of the same person. No.1 is the evil side, and No.6 is the one with the conscience, and that's perhaps why he resigned, it was a matter of conscience!

"They" seem to know what No.6 is thinking, how he will react to any given situation. That's because "they" have No.1, who is of the same mind as No.6. Perhaps then "they" should have asked No.1 why No.6 resigned!

By the end of this episode No.6 is in possession of certain information - that The Village is in the same time-zone as Great Britain, the fact that the time is the same in The Village as it is in London. And this must, in the mind of the Prisoner, narrow the location of The Village in the world to certain areas.

That those behind The Village are damned clever, and capable of just about anything. And finally, No.6 knows who runs The Village, and that he has been betrayed by his own side!

Number Six - A Special Kind Of Animal!

I suspect No.6 must be a special kind of animal, because I cannot for the life of me think that every person brought to the Village is put through the kind of treatment No.6 was put through. Chambers wasn't, nor was Cobb for that matter. as for No.2 of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ and ‘Once Upon A Time, in ‘Fall Out’ he regretted that he had resisted for so short-a-time. Chambers, well he soon talked. Roland Walter Dutton, the doctor went too far with him and his experiments, that Dutton will never be the same again! So why go to all the trouble they did with No.6, when all they had to do was shoot him with a syringe full of Scapolomine {a truth drug}, or get him drunk in The Therapy Zone, and No.6 wouldn't be able to stop himself from talking! It wouldn't have damaged the tissue, and they would still have No.6 at the end of the day. But basically it's all about games. Games, tests, trials, and the tribulations of No.6.

Dance Of The Dead

This is perhaps the most difficult episode to take literally. The Prisoner is sentenced to death for the possession of a radio set. That sentence is to be carried out by the people, who carry it out in the name of justice. But this is "mob justice," as they chase the Prisoner through the corridors of the Town Hall. You've ripped the guts out of a tele-printer, which inexplicably bursts into life again, continuing to type the message it was originally printing at the time the Prisoner caused it to stop. And the death sentence is not carried out. Well you never expected it to be, did you....or did you? How can things be normal in ‘the Prisoner’ ever again after this? The answer is simple, it can't. Things can only get worse!

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Here is a question, which has been relevent in a comment today. I have also had much debate with on old, old friend {via letter} on whether or not the Village is destroyed in Fall Out. What do you think, is the Village destroyed in the wake of the evacuation?

"Beautiful day" the two citizens greeting a new arrival.
"Do we know that young man?"
"No dear. We've never seen him before."
"He looks a nice, clean cut young man."
"Well he didn't return our greeting."
"Well he isn't used to our little ways here yet. He'll soon settle down."
"I expect so."
"Now we've had breakfast at the Cafe, what shall we do next?"
"We could go and collect your submarine, and sail it in the Free Sea."
"Oh, well dear my submarine is actually lying at the bottom of the Free Sea!"
"How so dear?"
"Number 66, the ex-Admiral sank it with his heavy Cruiser!"
"Never mind dear, we'll get you another one."
"Then I'll torpedo the ex-Admiral's heavy Cruiser, and then we'll see how he likes it!"
"Yes dear."

If memory serves right, Arrival was originally to have been ninety minutes in length, which means 40 minutes of film, and original unwanted scenes, ended up on the cutting room floor. Well, not all of it apparently. Take the episode of ‘Its Your Funeral’ for example. No.2-the heir presumptive and No.100 are awaiting a visit from No.6, who is about to warn No.2-the heir presumptive of an assassination plot against him.

No.6 leaves the Watchmakers shop, and makes his way along a cobbled path, through an archway, crossing the chess lawn he goes up the steps and across the central piazza. In this scene No.6 can clearly be seen wearing his charcoal grey suit he wore in Arrival. And so clearly this scene was cut from the opening sequence of Arrival, because it is clearly obvious that in Its Your Funeral No.6, wearing his arrival suit is on his way to the cafe, not the Green Dome!

And also in the episode ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ Patrick McGoohan is in this episode more than you first might imagine. The Prisoner can be seen driving his Lotus 7 through London on his way to his home in
Buckingham Place
- more cut film footage from Arrival's opening sequence, kept and later used as stock footage in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.’

Fall Out also contains stock film footage from Arrival's opening sequence. After the Prisoner drives away from No.1 Buckingham Place, the Lotus 7 is seen turning onto Mill Bank from Westminster Bridge, Past the Houses of Parliament, and so it is quite clear to me that the Prisoner is driving towards the turn off to Abingdon Street car park, as he does in the opening sequence of Arrival.

A Chink In The Armour!

If No.6 has an Achilles heel, then it's his weakness for a damsel in distress. No.6 first demonstrates this during the Chimes of Big Ben, when he comes to the aid of No.8-Nadia after seeing how No.2 is having her interrogated. Then he wants to help 'B' of A B & C, who is in distress. Then there's No.73 of Hammer Into Anvil, whose death he avenges. Monique-No.50 who seeks No.6's help in preventing the assassination of No.2. And finally vengeance rears it's head once more, as No.6 guns down The Kid in the frontier Town of Harmony, as he avenges the murder of Cathy.

An Overweening Sense Of Self-Importance

It's hardly surprising is it - seeing as the whole Village is there for No.6 alone, and everyone in it is there for the convenience of No.6.

It seems to me that this works well, if what takes place is all in the Prisoner's mind. The Village, and everyone in it will have been created by the mind of the Prisoner. He is No.1, and The Village, and the citizens therein, to do with as he pleases. In Once Upon A Time No.6 shouts at No.2 "In my mind, in my mind you're smart!" That's perhaps because if one follows this "all in the mind" theory, No.6 created No.2 in his own mind, and made him smart! And if it's all in No.6's mind, he should always be one step ahead. It's no wonder that No.6 plays a fine game.

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Well that was the instruction given to the men bringing No.6's unconscious body into the laboratory of ‘A B & C.’ But the doctor-No.14 made no remark towards that wet oilskin covering No.6 wrapped up in the blanket!

Suprisingly comes from 'Living In Harmony,' as it is my second least favourite episode in the series.

When Zeke and the 'boys' are teaching the Sheriff that it's not safe to go about without wearing a gun. To think of the Prisoner fighting with Zeke. Reacting to blows to the face, fighting, and rolling about on the ground against an imaginary foe!

The Prisoner, it's over 45 years since the series was first screened on British television, and now the Prisoner has finally come home to ITV.

In recent years ‘the Prisoner’ has enjoyed a re-mastering of the 35mm prints, along with a re-re-mastering and further enhancement to give the picture far more clarity than it has ever enjoyed in the past. So much so, that comments like "The Prisoner looks as though it was filmed yesterday." Well of course it wasn't, was it?

It's okay to re-master films and television series, and many look all the better for it. However with the Prisoner constant re-mastering, and enhancement of the picture quality has only served to bring out the series imperfections. For example, in ‘The Schizoid Man’ when the pair of sixes are together in No.6's cottage. You can now clearly see the defining "split screen" line in the scene, which were filmed separately and then put together to place both No.6's in the same scene on the screen. Also there is a difference in lighting quality which can be clearly seen on the screen. Before all this re-mastering and enhancement it was difficult to discern on the screen the thin line between the split screen, and there was not so much difference in lighting. But now all has become clear, with a never before picture clarity, which makes the Prisoner easier to be defined, along with it's imperfections

In ‘Arrival,’ the Prisoner is given his identity, an identity card, and badge which he wears on the lapel of his piped blazer. That identity of Six, his name is Number Six. This is a number that Six rejects, refuses to accept, or indeed respond to. Yet by the time of ‘The Schizoid Man,’ Number Six battles to keep his identity of Six, when another comes along proclaiming that he is Number Six!

You see, the Prisoner might have rejected his number, his identity of Number Six. But when push comes to shove, when someone comes along to try and strip Sis of even that very identity that he rejects, he will fight hell and high water to keep it!

A Closet Prisoner!

This is the view of the cloakroom, seen in the final episode of the Prisoner.

Three things are evident about the cloak room, the effigy of the Prisoner known as No.6. The two wicker baskets, and the two racks of coat hangers, which to me are suggestive. But suggestive of what? Well that No,6 was far from the first Prisoner to reach this far, by surviving the "ultimate teast." To me, these, swinging, coat hangers, could previously have held other prisoner's "own clothes" who had progressed at least this far, but with the ordeal of Fall Out yet to come, and did they, like No.1 gain the opportunity to meet......No.1? And if they did unmask No.1, who then did they see? Presumably like No.6...... themselves!

More than that, the number of bare coat hangers would suggest that the village has had a long and formidable experience of this process. And one final point, the Supervisor-No.28 said to the Prisoner "We thought you would feel happier as yourself." And don't forget, No.48 was also wearing his own clothes. So perhaps No.48 had been in that same cloakroom, a few moments before No.6.

The Prisoner

Suspence is the keynote of the series. the action is electrifying but, more than anything, these are stories of one man's personal courage and convictions. the emotional impact and intensely moving. "It tears at the heart," one member of the unit declared after seeing a rough-cut of the first episode.

Number 6 is pictured with the flower seller who knows everyone who is ill, who is getting better. But what business might Number 6 have with her? Who has he to buy flowers for? Perhaps he is about to purchase a bunch of daffodils to put on 73's grave!

It has been stated that the Prisoner is something of a 'timeless' series. It could have happened yesterday, perhaps today, and god forbid..... tomorrow!

And of course they're right, the village could be at any time, in any place such is it's mixture of architecture. Yet there are 3 episodes which do date the series, but which still holds firm today, ‘Many Happy Returns’, ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling’ and ‘Fall Out.’ These are the three episodes that actually date the Prisoner, back to the 1960's, but that is from outside of the village. By the cars, lorries, buses and taxis of the time. There is even an advertising poster displaying the late comedian Bob Monkhouse, stuck on the bottom glass panel of the door to 'World Cameras' in Do Not Forsake Me Oh My darling.

But despite this the Prisoner does somehow remain timeless, and a joy to watch, attracting new fans the world over all the time. Had the outside world not have impinged upon that of the village, then the Prisoner would indeed have remained truly timeless. Nothing like ‘the Prisoner’ had been seen before, nor has been seen since. Perhaps there are no longer any men with such drive and determination like that of Patrick Mcgoohan anymore. No one such as the late Sir Lew Grade who are prepared to take a chance!

There is so much rubbish on television in general these days, apart form Jekyll of course, and I think it is high time that a new Prisoner series was made. A new series which sticks firmly to that of the original, but brought slap bang up to date, with a new No.6 having been abducted to the village, and filmed in the original setting of Portmeirion, extra locations in the village could be computer generated. Even some of the original cast members are still around, who could put in an appearance. All it takes is a little imagination, and some one out there willing to take a chance. But where the Prisoner is concerned, risk takers seem to be very thin on the ground, and with no imagination!

Although marked on Your Map of the Village, it is a building not employed in the actual series of the Prisoner. The idea behind it was to keep the inmates or rather the citizens entertained. With amateur dramatics, music concerts. Exhibitions of mime, Village Festivals, Arts and Crafts Exhibitions. There was to have been a Casino where citizens could gamble their credit units away. Of course much of the listed activities either take place in the Town Hall, as in the Ball on the evening of Dance of the Dead, and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition which takes place in the Recreation Hall. Somehow I think the Palace of Fun, would have been a whole lot more fun!

The Irony In Fall Out

Yes there is the song ‘All you need is love’ playing while guns blaze. It was during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ No.6 told No.2 that he was Going to escape, escape and come back. Come back, wipe this place off the face of the Earth, obliterate it, and you with it! So how ironic it it, that it is that same No.2 who assists No.6 in carrying out the prisoner's threat during the violent, and bloody revolution of ‘Fall Out.’ Well No.2 did agree with No.6, that he was just as much a prisoner, as No.6!

Number 6 Or Number 1 - Its All McGoohan!

With the Prisoner, in the later-made episodes, you are not watching an actor playing the role of No.6, you are seeing McGoohan playing himself!

Patrick McGoohan was never very forthcoming about what the Prisoner was all about. I often wondered if he actually knew, or whether he was just making it up as he went along. When asked a straightforward question, McGoohan was hardly ever known to give a straightforward answer. He described the series as "the battle between the good and evil in onself." But the series certainly never started out like that. More of a superior spy thriller, which is how story editor George Markstein saw the Prisoner.

For the late Patrick McGoohan, the Prisoner became an obsession. He's not the only one, is he readers.............

Sunday, 24 June 2012

This is the tree of desolation. It appears in 'Arrival' by which the Prisoner buries the body of the old man, which is somewhat provocative of the scene in 'Living In Harmony' in which Number 6 buries the body on Boot Hill. Except there is no body in either case! The tree of desolation also appears on a tarot card in the final episode 'Checkmate.'

This man, 37927 is accused of being a Two impersonator. But since when did Two take to wearing the "Old school scarf" in THEPRISO6NER? Another homage to the original series.

It is easliy forgotten, but the Village is situated on an estuary. The mouth of the estuary leading into the sea, and the river leading into the hills and mountains beyond. So perhaps that is a possible way out of the Village, an escape route to freedom. All one would need is a dug-out canoe, Number 6 could easily carve one out of the trunk of a tree. But then perhaps he's had enough of felling trees, and contructing sailing craft!

There is always someone out there ready and waiting to make a quick buck! Certainly that was the case with a recent item on ebay. I referring to a 16mm print of 'Living In Harmony' which was valued at £500. I checked it out last night with just over two hours left to bid for the item. At that time there were no bids, and I cannot imagine there would be any in that final two hours. I mean if anyone had wished to buy it, they would have done so the first time this item was listed on ebay, and could have acquired it for a whole lot less than £500!
It makes one wonder where such items come from? I might have bid for it originally myself, but then I don't have a 16mm film projector, so the film would be useless. A reel of film in a can!

FALL OUT - the final chapter of that enigmatic television series the Prisoner. And what does ‘Fall Out’ gives us, a James Bond style of ending, which McGoohan always said was not what his intention to give the audience, but did so anyway but bound it all up in a fancy pink ribbon called it an allegory! But more than that, much more than that, we finally get to meet No.1 as No,6 did, and it turned out to be himself all along, oh what a cop-out it all was, or was it?

I have always been of the opinion that you get what you see, as No.6 finally comes face to face with No.1 - himself, his alter ego if you prefer, who No.6, as McGoohan once put it "He was trying to beat."

Well were they, No.6 and No.1 one and the same. Or was it all delusion as most things in the village seem to be, and yet more manipulation of No.6 brought about by the villages administration, or those masked members of the assembly? You will recall Curtis of the episode ‘The Schizoid Man,’ No.6's doppelganger for the want of a better word. But he died in the episode didn't he. Well we have only No.6's word for that, as not everyone is suffocated to death at the membrane of the village guardian you know. Curtis may very well have only been rendered unconscious for all we know, and that could mean that Curtis...... Well No.1, getting his own hands dirty for once!

If this is not the case, and that in actual fact No.6 and No.1 were one and the same, the Prisoner must then surely have ended in despair, with No.6 finding out that he was No.1 after all. And do we then not share in the Prisoner's despair? Do we not, each and everyone of us, at some point in our lives, have the desire to be No.1? And for those lucky ones who achieve that goal, who do they face when they look themselves in the mirror?

Just what did the village administration achieve with the elections of ‘Free For All?’ It would appear that the village administration has gone to an awful lot of trouble for the sake of one man, when seemingly it can gain nothing from the venture, and that goes for No.6 as well. A form of stalemate one might presume to say. The only reason they might have had was that of a bribe - work with us, and this could all be yours. But this idea falls flat on it's face within the last moments of the episode, when No.6 has attained the position of No.2, and he tries to organise a mass breakout, yet no-one is taking the slightest notice of him, as the new No.2's voice booms out across the village "You are free, free, free to go. I have command, obey me and be free." so No.6 has nothing to gain, although he does try. He also tries to escape, but the attempt is futile.

The election is rigged, there is no reason for it, because the new No.2 is already ensconced in the village, as a plant - a maid-No.58 assigned to No.6. So all there is to do, is to simply 'play the game.' At the end, No.6 is taught a lesson, that this is only the beginning. That they have many ways and means, but they don't wish to damage him permanently. But surely Free For All was never simply to teach No.6 a lesson! But I hope No.6 was listening, because at least he learned something from this experience.

‘ Free For All’ may appear to have no reason behind it. It raises many questions, but for all that, it is simply a joy to watch.

Good Old fashioned Brute Force

Isn't always effective, as No.6 found out on the day of his arrival in the village. Having become annoyed by the piped music, he picks up the loudspeaker and tramples it to pieces under foot. Yet the music continues. In Dance of the Dead, No.6 comes across a tele printer, he opens it, and rips out the wiring and printing paper. Yet a few moments later the tele printer whirs into life, and carries on printing the message!

It would seem that "Good old fashioned brute force" will avail No.6 nothing!

A Negative Reaction To Pain

Such is one result of the tests carried out on No.6 during the episode of Checkmate. No.2 responds that he'd never be able to fake that 'a negative reaction to pain,' to which the doctor agrees "Its would take superhuman will power!"

Well it would seem that by the time of the next episode No.6 has lost that "superhuman" will power. Because while undergoing an interrogation session with No.2 in his office, No.2 pokes No.6's forehead with the point of his sword "Ah! You react" No.2 comments. No sign of a 'negative reaction to pain there!'

Saturday, 23 June 2012

MA graduate Paul Gosling's "MAGIC NUMBER SIX" will have it's premiere at the Little Theatre Studio in Leicester on:Thursday 1st November and will be performed again on Saturday 3rd November.

“MAGIC NUMBER SIX” is a one stage play written by Paul Gosling thatchronicles the sometimes difficult working relationship between the actor, Patrick McGoohan and TV impressario, Lew Grade. Based on real events, the play follows their friendship before and during the making of the PRISONER TV series (1967)

"So what do you want to know?"
"Well for a start who is the Prisoner?"
"Me!"
"And Number 1?"
"Me again really."
"So who is Curtis?"
"That would be me. But at times Frank Maher also shares the role."
"And the Village Guardian?"
"Well it's a balloon, obviously."
"Its not symbolic?"
"If you like."
"Representative of our fears?"
"Whatever you like."
"And the Village?"
"A unit of our own society."
"In which people go about wearing piped balzers and colourful clothes!"
"It's like a holiday resort."
"The Village?"
"Yes."
"Henley boating regatta!"
"If you like."
"And the piped blazer regressive to your school days?"
"They will be trendy one day, and everyone will seem to be wearing them."
"We are all prisoners?"
"Yes, of one thing or another."
"Does the Prisoner escape?"
"No. He's as much a prisoner at the end as he is at the beginning."
"But it could be said that the ending of the Prisoner is the beginning!"
"My point precisely. What's your number?"
"Haven't got a number!"
"Everyone has a number, what is it, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18.........."
"Now don't start!"
"I have something for you."
"A present! What is it?"
"A coat hanger. Study it, and you'll learn what the Prisoner is all about!"

'Don't Nail Him Yet,' sees John Drake take on the personna of school teracher John Keiron in his task of getting close to Rawson who is suspect of passing on Naval secrets to the other side. In the Star public house, there is a group of youngsters who pick on Drake "Batches and fudges!" In teasing Drake about his LP record, it gets dopped on the floor and one young man puts his foot on it and breaks the record.
My wife pointed out an error in this scene the other night. The fact that the record should not have broken, seeing as how it is not a seventy eight record made from shellac which is very brittle, but vinyl which is far more durable, and virtually indistructable, and it wouldn't have made that crunching sound!

It’s all a question of interpretation I suppose, and your interpretation could very well be a different one to mine, and equally correct, on certain matters concerning the Prisoner. The series has been described as a slightly off-beat spy drama, adventure at its best, and nothing more. This type of thing comes from someone who probably didn't like the Prisoner the first time round, and so didn't bother to watch the series again during its re-screening in the mid 1970's.

The village is a microcosm of society, where people are encouraged to be identical to one another and individuals are not tolerated. Well that might be true of the episode ‘A Change of Mind,’ but not of the series on the whole. After all there are individuals in the village, only the behaviour of the citizens, the "inmates" is controlled, this for the good of the community, to contain the possible idea of a mass breakout, which No.6 tired to initiate at the end of ‘Free For All.’ Take the gardener in ‘Checkmate,’ the one No.6 wanted a word with. He told No.6 that he would have to wait. The gardener was as individual as no.6.

The Prisoner is a load of codswallop, irritating in the extreme, which fails to fulfil its obligations to the viewers by not providing clear answers to questions like "Who is No.1?" Well if this person couldn't work that one out for himself or herself, when during the very first opening sequence of ‘Arrival’ who No.1 is, then they have no chance with all that follows. Because when you come across comments such as this, it means that they want it all laid out on a plate for them, so they don't have to bother themselves with finding the answers for themselves. And what would be the point in that?

The whole series in merely a dream or a drug-induced "trip" suffered by the character. Well that's one point of view I suppose. I can't see what the point would be to have the Prisoner-No.6 in a permanently "drugged-up" state, or what the village administration would learn Unless they used the truth drug, or really get Number 6 drunk in the Therapy Zone! then the villages administration would learn something. A dream, well No.6 would have to wake up some point wouldn't he!

Some have seen, and I do recall the "great religious debate," which I never became involved with, the whole series, and ‘Fall Out’ in particular, as biblical overtones. The characters of No.2 and No.48 are "crucified." The court scene is "Judgement day", No.2 is literally resurrected, and No.48 is "born all over." Well, not exactly being a man of deep religion I can see where they are coming from. But then again McGoohan always claimed that there was never any religious intent. So there you go. You pays your money and takes your choice.

The village represents all forms of authority in our lives, parents, teachers, bosses, the government etc, etc. Well it would, wouldn't it. After all the village is a complete unit of our own society, and includes all that society provides.

The main message of the series is an exhortation to "be oneself," which does not necessarily mean "be like No.6," but is a warning against following the crowd and not being true to your character. Well in my time I have not tried to be like No.6, but to be true to my own character. I have not followed others, tried to be different to others, but not going directly out of my way to be so. At school in my 5th year we were allowed to wear what we wanted. I chose a blazer with a crimson lining. Whilst the other wore everyday clothes. Then having left school, from my late teens on, I took to wearing suits, three piece suits, when everyone was mostly wearing Denim. These were old school friends who rebelled against the school uniform, wanting to wear their own clothes. So now they had swapped their school uniform, for the uniform of Denim. And there I was, an individual in a suit!

You have to watch, and unravel the Prisoner series for yourself. To form your own opinions as to what it all means, what's it all about. But I can help with most things, to help point those who ask in the right direction, and have done in the past.

Fall Out - In allegorical terms, it can mean anything. But really, a James Bond style of ending, which Patrick McGoohan said he didn't want for the Prisoner. Basically, it all depends on how you look at it!

Why?

Why did No.1 climb up into the nose cone of the rocket?

Well basically there was nowhere else for him to go. And he certainly didn't want t be caught by his counterpart No.6. Besides which, have you ever noticed how in television, and films, that anyone being chased by somebody else, they have this instinctive urge to go upwards. To climb, to go up stairs and ladders, but by any other means, they must ascend to a higher level in order to try and, well try to escape!

Friday, 22 June 2012

Why is it Number 6 felt the need to leave this I owe you note on the counter of the General Store, while at the same time questioning his identity? He could have simply taken all the things he needed, the camera, the Tally Ho, provisions of food, and the loudspeaker. I wonder if his credit card covered that debt? And seeing as everywhere was locked against him, save for the Green Dome, I suspect Number 6 had to break into the General store in the first place. That's breaking and entering, but not theft, as he left an I owe you note in his own hand!

"Did you see the football last night?"
"Yes, I couldn't believe 10 was off-side."
"He wasn't, 4 was playing him on-side."
"The ref needed glasses."
"That was never a penalty you know."
"Yes I know, he was tackled just outside the box."
"He's viscious our number 3."
"What Chopper Three?"
"What was Number 9 doing with his feet?"
"They're called step-overs."
"Is that what they're called. He was dazzling."
"Yes, until he tripped over his own boot laces!"

How the ending of Many Happy Returns could have been, according to the original script.

Mrs. Butterworth, now wearing the badge of No.2, walks in, with the village loudspeakers playing "Happy Birthday To You." She is holding a large birthday cake with six candles on it. She sets it down on the table and walks towards No.6 who is shattered. From her pocket, Mrs. Butterworth takes a package tied with pink ribbon and hands it to him. He rips it open to reveal his cassette of film, stolen from the locker and replaced with a blank roll.

Mrs. Butterworth: You see, there is no escape. So be sensible and tell me why you resigned.

No.6 just stares at her and then notices the wrapping paper from his present. He opens it fully to see it is the Village newspaper. The headlines read "PLANE LOST OVER SEA. NO HOPE OF SURVIVORS." No.6 looks up, Mrs. Butterworth is now standing by the open door, holding the cat under her arm

Mrs. Butterworth: Give in and enjoy being dead.

She leaves.

No.6: {screwing up the newspaper} I'll die first.

So now you know who was to have had that black cat which saw No.6 set sail on his long journey. That very same black cat which No.2 of ‘Dance of the Dead,’ claimed to have been hers. Also, if the ending to the script had been maintained in Many Happy Returns, No.6 would have long been lost in an accident at sea, and that would surely have had a knock-on effect for ‘Dance of the Dead’. There would have been no need to have the dead man's face amended, nor the wallet in his pocket. That was probably used in this episode because the end of the script was altered for ‘Many Happy Returns.’ Because both episodes of ‘Many Happy Returns and Dance’ of the Dead were written by the same script writer, Anthony Skene. The idea that No.6 had died in an accident at sea had been cut from the script for the ending of Many Happy Returns, But Skene was able to write it into his next script Dance of the Dead, the black cat as well!

You know, Once Upon A time must surely have been an ordeal for No.6, not to mention No.2. For No.2 had been up most of the previous night reciting nursery rhymes to the slumbering No.6. And who can say just how much sleep No.6 actually got during that week, locked away in the embryo room. Certainly towards the end both men looked exhausted.

But then No.6 was the victor, having turned the situation back upon No.2 who apparently - died. But if you think that this is the end, for a triumphant No.6, you would be wrong. Because No.6 is then duly released from the embryo room, and taken the to underground cavern, where he was put under further manipulation. Yet when No.6 enters the cavern, he looks as fresh as ever. Looking nothing like the unshaven, tired, and dishevelled No.6 of the previous few minutes, after only just being released from the embryo room. No.6 should be out on his feet. Which would make the final manipulation of the Prisoner a piece of cake for the President.

I suppose heroes are always supposed to look fresh from the fight. Heroes never give up. They carry on the fight to the bitter end, killing and maiming. Destroying that which they once created, in effect, destroying a part of themselves which holds them prisoner. Such is their desire to be free.

Facts Behind The Prisoner

The giant chessboard was on the lawn at Portmeirion for about a week in September 1966, and was taken up as soon as the human chess game scenes in Checkmate had been filmed. The board certainly made it's mark on Portmeirion by leaving light coloured grass squares when the white panels were removed. When No.6 walks across the same lawn in Arrival and in most opening sequences, the alternate light and dark green squares are clearly visible. therefore, this Arrival shot was filmed after Checkmate's location shoot and at the end of September 1966.

The face Of A Defector!

He once knew the Prisoner, once they had been friends. They do the same job, if for different reasons. But as 'A' here told the Prisoner “Whichever way you look at it, we both want to conquer the world.” Ah, but is 'A' speaking to the Prisoner, or No.1?

About Me

An enthusiast of the 1960's television series 'the Prisoner.' A writer, author, and considered an authority on the series.
'The Prisoner' captivated me from the moment of that clash of thunder in the opening sequence, and I have been a prisoner of 'the Prisoner' ever since.